Mining explorers are being urged to be better equipped when visiting an old quarry in Airy, Snowdonia. Three of his friends are stranded overnight in a notorious slate mine after making a simple mistake with potentially disastrous consequences.
Members of the rescue team admitted they were already “very tired” when they received the call in the middle of the night at the Croysor-Rosiz mining complex, between Croysor and Taniglisiau, near Blainau Ffestiniog. The end-to-end penetration route is considered a classic journey for mining explorers who want to see the “real magical underground world.”
Zip wires, fixed ropes, suspension bridges, and rubber boats turn your trip into an adventure. But some of the equipment is old or missing, so the mine continues to catch the unwary and is a regular destination for the North Wales Cave Rescue Organization (NWCRO).
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On Monday 6th May, North Wales Police alerted the NWCRO and Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team that three people were missing from Croiso Locid. Coincidentally, NWCRO members had previously spent all day in the mine for training.
One of the missing trio was found at the bottom of Cloisor’s first pitch. The party was unable to find a way out of Roshid, so he retreated to the entrance to raise the alarm.
“Unfortunately, when they reached the last pitch, they realized the rope they were descending from was no longer there,” an NWCRO spokesperson said. The other rope was pulled halfway down the pitch and I couldn’t reach it.
“The message was relayed to the surface and a second NWCRO team entered Roshid. They quickly located the other two members of the party and escorted them to the surface just as the sun was rising.” Local sunrise on Monday was 5:29am. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community is now live with top stories and breaking news. Here’s how to register:
Further investigation revealed that the three men were not using their own ropes, but ropes set up by another group that had traversed the same day. After completing their visit, the group headed back overland to retrieve the rope. At that time, I accidentally pulled up the rope at the site. Cave rescuers noted that the site was in poor condition anyway.
A spokesperson warned visitors to prepare appropriately. They said: “If you’re considering this trip, don’t rely on equipment you might find and bring with you. It’s also a very good idea to retrace the route from the Roshid side to be sure you know the exit. .”
Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team was also sent to the mine to provide medical assistance, arriving at 1:03am. They helped the three men return to the surface and escorted them to their vehicle, where they were dropped off around 6:30 a.m.
Experienced cavers also carry their own ropes and rubber boats to cross Croiso Rosid’s 50-meter underground lake. A lot has been caught – read more here. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent to your inbox twice daily
- NWCRO volunteers rely on donations to provide services year-round. You can contribute here.
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